Cantor's NCAA Banter: Day 1

May 13, 2011

Every day during the Quinnipiac
women's tennis team's trip to the NCAA Tournament in Los Angeles,
Calif., sophomore Rachel Cantor will keep you up to date on the
team's activities.

Words for the wise: If you happen to have a 7 a.m flight,
don't try an all-nighter. We did and it was absolutely miserable.
Report time was 2:45 a.m. outside the Rec Center, where our bus
awaited. Everyone came straggling along from all different
directions. I went to pick up my doubles partner, Adrienne, from
her house at around 2:20 a.m. We got to JFK at around 4:30 a.m. and
our flight was at 7 a.m. After a long security process and an awful
airport breakfast, we finally boarded the plane and before you knew
it, six hours later we arrived at LAX. Sarah Viebrock started to
sing Miley Cyrus' "Party In the USA". We got off the plane, walked
down to baggage claim where it couldn't have gone any smoother.
Luckily, no bags got lost. The bus picked us up and we were off to
Venice Beach!!!

We got dropped off at Venice Beach, where we had about four hours
to kill before we were allowed to check in at our hotel. Everyone
received lunch money and from there on we split up and went our
separate ways. To say the least, I was very shocked because I
didn't think Venice Beach was that green. Venice is an energetic
and lively area of So. Cal. Two of my teammates, Beth, Adrienne and
I stuck together. We ate lunch at this Organic Café where we
all enjoyed delicious guacamole to start out with, followed by
phenomenal salads for Adrienne and I while Beth enjoyed a chicken
quesadilla. We got to see Muscle Beach, where we found Coach Q
working out. Just kidding!!!!! Venice is known for its beaches,
canals and circus-like ocean walk, and a few-mile pedestrian-only
path that leads to performers, artists, vendors and fortune
tellers. There were more bikers and skateboarders than there were
walkers. Venice is a very diverse place.

After a long day of traveling, shopping and touring around Venice
Beach, it was time to head to our hotel. We are staying at the
Courtyard Marriott in Culver City, Calif. Usually on every trip, we
stay in a room with our doubles partner. I am rooming with my
doubles partner, Adrienne Markison. After we got our room
assignments, Adge and I decided to go for a run in the fitness
center, just so that we wouldn't be dead for practice today. After
we ran, we showered and got ready for dinner. Dinner was in Q's
room where they ordered us pizza, pasta and salad. It was
delicious! We had a quick meeting, talking about plans for
tomorrow. 30 minutes later, Adrienne and I passed out. It was 11
p.m. eastern time, but 8 p.m. in Cali and we were beyond exhausted.
We are going to Hollywood tomorrow and then practice followed by a
great dinner out with the team! Stay tuned for
more!!!